Compound cardboard box body



July 16, 1940. Q SNYDER AL 2,208,268

. COMPOUND CARDBOARDBOX BODY Filed March 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 30 l.if ffl/@3' July 16. 1940- G. H. sNYDER Erm. l 2,208,258

COMPOUND CARDBOARD BOX BODY Filed March 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @pM/)4@man ATTORNEY Za 3% Z7" f5 Patented July 16, 1940 usura STATES COMPOUNDCARDBOARD BOX BODY George H. Snyder, Glenside, and Allen G. Snyder,Chestnut Hill, Pa.

Application March 28, 1936, Serial No. 71,366

14 Claims.

0 In the earlier developments noted we disclosed the formation of acompound cardboard box body comprised of an outer shell of relativelythin cardboard and an inner tray of relatively thicker cardboard nestedwithin the shell-forming walls of substantially the thickness of woodencigar box walls so as to conduce toward a simulation of wooden cigarboxes. The box bodies thus formed were susceptible to any box purposesdesired, but in the preferred instance according to the latter of theabove patents were subjected to trimming operations to cause the boxbodies to have higher ends than sides, andwith substantially squaredupper edges, in any desired manner. It is preferred to trim the boxes bysubjecting the bodies to the trimming secured by the device andaccording to the method disclosed in our Patent No. 1,970,581.

The box bodies as developed heretofore have been eminently pleasing, andupon every count have been more satisfactory than the Wooden boxes whichthey have replaced. The boxes are stronger, more resistant to moisture,and cheapver than wooden cigar boxes` Owing, however, to the cost of thethicker cardboard of the tray, and to the relatively high labor cost ofthe assembly, there are numerous situations in which the presentcardboard box body and box assembly could be even more economicallyproduced to advantage if such cheapening could be secured withoutsacrifice of the outstanding advantageous characteristics of theassembly.

It is among the objects of this invention; to provide a compoundcardboard box body of simplicity and economy; to improve generally theconstruction of cardboard boxes; to provide a box body of great strengthin which each corner has the same strength substantially as every other;to'provide a compound box body comprised of a plurality of walllaminations having corners so arranged that no direct line of weaknessextends through any corner so as to preclude rupture from a smallstrain; to provide a plurality of similar and relatively thinlaminations in such manner as to avoid the use of thick cardboard in ofthe desirable attributes normally flowing from the thick lamination;toprovide a box body of lowered material cost; to provide a box body oflowered labor cost; to provide a box body utilizing components of thesize and nature in part at least of scrap; and there are many otherobjects and advantages as will become more apparent as th-e descriptionproceeds. v

In carrying out the invention ina preferred form, a thin shell comprisedof a bottom` and four flaps stayed in box formationhas disposed withinit a plurality of partial necks in relatively overlapping relation, witha bottom and side wall covering semi-tray adherent within the necks andshell.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an exploded perspective of the components of thepreferred form of compound box,

Fig. 2 represents the preferred form,

Fig. `3 represents an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section throughthe compound box body of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary transverse n vertical section throughthe preferred form of device shown in Figs. l and 2, taken on line -ilof Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 represents va fragmentary longitudinal vertical section throughthe compound box body shown in Figs. l and 2 taken on line 5--5 of Fig.2, A

Fig. 6 represents a perspective of a semi-tray or innermost member of amodified form of box assembly,

Fig. 7 represents a plan of a boxA body according to the disclosure ofFig. 2, as modified by the use of the tray of Fig. 6,

Fig. Srepresents a perspective of a tray structure such as canbe usedwith the compound structure of Fig. 2,

va plan of the assembly of o Fig.' 9 represents a plan of a box bodyaccordend flap or wall I3 of the shell.

.compound box body comprises three double ply Fig. 13 represents a planof a compound box body built up with four of the half necks of Fig. 12withY a semi-tray member, and

Fig. 14 represents a fragmentary transverse Vertical section through abox With a reinforced bottom wall.

In Fig. 2, there is disclosed a plan of a conlpound box body which is apreferred. embodiment of the invention, and which is composed ofindividual component parts shown best, pcrhaps, in the'explodedperspective of Fig. l, to which reference may now be taken. Thepreferred foundation of the box is the shell lf2, usually and preferablycomprised of a bottom i i, end Wall flaps I2 and I3 and side wall flapsis and I 5. Each flap joins the bottom along treated lines I Ii, whichusually are scored, or otherwise thinned, to facilitate bending of theflaps into Wall portions. Adjacent flaps are disposed preferably in asomewhat mutually abutting relation and secured in place by the adherentstays il.

The stays may be reinforced as desired or a plu rality may be providedat each corner in overlapping arrangement (not shown) and each is soarranged as to anchor adjacent naps in a strong corner extendingsubstantially the full depth of the shell. It will be apparent vthat aseach bent flap of the shell is substantially an independent wallrelative to its adjacent or contiguous neighbor in a corner, there is aninterruption of the continuity of the wall texture and, in effect, aline of relative weakness i3 (-as shown in Fig. 3) extendsperpendicularly of the bottom for the depth of the box shell. Thecorners, however are quite strong as the line noted is only relativelyweakened.

It will also be apparent that each scored, or otherwise treated, lineIB, comprises a line of relative weakness as compared to the unbent andunscored material of the adjacent bottom II and the respective panels orvflaps hinged thereto. It is to be understood that as lines of weakness,the term is purely relative, as actually al1 of the joints or cornersare quite strong.

The shell, as just described, is of rather thin material, andpreferably, although clearly not essentially, of a single ply orlamination. To increase the thickness of the wall it is preferred that athree-quarter neck 20 be provided, comprising an end panel 2I, a sidewall 22, and an end panel 23, respectively separated by vertical linesof relative weakness 24. The end panels ZI and 23 of neck 20, arepreferably of just the proper length so that when suitably adhesivelycoated and inserted within shell I0, they will just abut the interiorof. the shaped shell, and vspecifically, for illustrative purposes, toabut the wall I5 of the shell, when the neck has its middle extent 22adhesively secured to the opposite side wall I4. Obviously, again purelyillustratively, this will bring end wall 23 of the neck 20 against Atthis stage the Walls and one single ply wall.

A secondary three-quarter neck is provided, lcomprised of a middleextent 25 and end flapsv 26 and 21 respectively connected by creases orlines of relative Weakness 28, and which neck is externally adhesivelycoated and is introduced into the lbox body with the middle portion 25against side wall I5, to form with shell flap I5 a double ply Wallsection, as will be clear. The end flaps ofthe secondary neck are thenadhesively secured to the inner surfaces of. the respective end flaps 2Iand 23 of the primary threestrength.

board, however, joined at a corner.

quarter neck, and terminate in abutment with the middle panel 22 of thesaid primary neck. In certain cases it is preferred that the secondaryneck be of such finish on the inner exposed surface as to contribute,with other surfaces to be described, to the nal insidenish of thecompleted box. Thus, illustratively purely, the secondary neck may haveits inner surfaces of. a calendered whitened surface, such as wouldcomport with the desired finish of a cigar box, for instance. As thusfar described, it will be clear that one inner side wall and both of thethree ply end walls will have the desired finish, while the bottom andone side Wall will be of the texture of the material of the shell and ofthe primary neck, respectively. The box body as thus described may beused for box purposes, or may have additional reinforcing elements, aslater recited, associated with it. The partial necks just described, andto be described, may be, and are preferably, of the same Weightcardboard as the shell, or they may be heavier or lighter than saidshell.

A three-part semi-tray 30, comprising a body or bottom `panel 3|, andside walls 32 and 33, respectively joined to the bottom panel SI withscored or weakened lines of bend 32, andthe inner surfaces of which arepreferably finished in the same manner as the secondary neck, isprovided in adhesive engagement with the bottom I I, and with the innerportions of the respective middle panels 22 and 25 of the two necks.

The assembly as thus .described is one which requires a minimum oflabor, requires no special machinery for the assembly, although machineassembly under certain conditions is contemplated, and uses small unitsof material, such as might almost be characterized* as scrap, and withlight weight material furnishes a compound box body each wall of whichis of at least three plies or laminations, and which when suitably driedcan be trimmed off to establish neat upper edges, as for instance by amachine as shown Vby our Patent No. 1,970,581,0r otherwise. The assemblyjust described affords a box body, the interior of which is of finishedand attractive appearance, while the box is of appreciable It is adesirable feature that each reinforcing element may be glued, orotherwise treated, then collapsed upon itself so as to be easilyintroduced, and then expanded into anchored engagement by manualmanipulations, t0 avoid the difficulties of nesting 'one shaped andstayed or secured box form Within another.

A word about the strength of the box may be noted at this juncture. Thestrength of the box is evident, if in existence, by the strength of thecorners. The advantages of the instant construction can perhaps bebetter appreciated when it is observed that a piece of cardboard whichis bent to shape, even after scoring, is usually stronger than twoindependent pieces of card- 'I'he flaw in necked boxes of the past, inconsiderable degree has lain in the fact that although three joints arequite strong indeed, the fourth, Where the neck ends abut, is of suchWeakness that the boxes which do give way in service, break at/thiscorner. In other illustrations of box bodies, a line of Weakness isthought to exist at the corners, through linear alignment of therelatively weak points. Thus if three scored pieces of cardboard arebent and the corners nested or superimposed upon each other, the scoringor bend line of each Will be in the same common line, and a .75

tearing or shearing strain incident uponthe In the contemplation of thisinvention this align- `ment linearly of'. the weaknesses of the parts isob-viated. Illustratively two scored joints are separated by an abuttingneck end, so as to stagger the weakness line. It is believed thataifactor in the strength of the box lies in this provision.

Referringto Fig. 3, it will be observed that the scored corner 24 of theprimary neck formed by the intersection of side wall 22 with end Hap` 23is strengthened by the extension of secondary end flap 21 over againstneck side wall 22, with which latter flap side wall 33 of the semi-trayabuts so that stresses must either passdirectly through the solidloverlapping parts just mentioned, or around their ends, with aconsequent interruption in their continuity and consequent resistance torupture in response to such strains. The same characteristicmisalignment holds true for each of, the bottom joints as well, as shownin Figs. 4` and 5, so that the box of this invention is of greatstrength in all directions.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that many modificationsmay be made in this invention without departing from its spirit, andcertain of these will now'be described.

As shown in Fig. 6, the semi-tray 34 of suitable thickness, usually thesame as that of the necks, is provided with a bottom 35, and end aps 36and 31,with which a box body according to the disclosure of Figs, 1 'and2, built up with two three-quarter necks as Adescribed in connectionwith those figures, is operativelyassociated so that a desiredthickening Vof the end walls, while retainingtheV thinness of the sidewalls is secured. In the illustrative disclosure utilizing the trayof4Fig. 6, as shownin Fig. 7, the side walls areof but two plies.

In Figs. 8 and 9 there is illustrated the use of a complete but usuallyunstayed tray, comprising `a bottom 38, end wall Vflaps 40 and 4l andside wall flaps 42 and 43. 'Ihis enables the composite box body alreadydescribed (except for the tray) to have such additional reinforcementsas to have the end walls of four plies while theY side walls are ofthree plies. The ability to collapse the tray for purposes of insertionis an important advantage over a stayed and stiiened tray.

In Figs. 10 and l1, there is illustrated a neck h having four walls,illustratively 'two end Walls,

respectively 44 and 45 and side walls 46 and 4l, which is designed foroperative association with the quasi-necks and the shell alreadydescribed. In this case, to avoid the corner weakness alluded to, thefull neckhas a line of jointure 49, either in a side, off from thecenter, so as to present no difficulties to nailing the box lids to theboxes after filling, or in the end where the joint would be concealed bya subsequently applied wrap. In the preferred case the `full neck ofFig. 10 is first associated with the shell and then the threequarternecks already described may be inserted as shown in Fig. 11, or thethree-quarter shells may be substituted by the unstayed tray of Fig. 8or any other desired inner member.

Figs. 12 and 13 represent a composite box body formed with the shell ofFig. 1, and the semi-tray of the same, but with half necks, preferablyfour in number, and comprising each an end portion 48 and a side portion50. With each glued in place in the shell in contact with one surface ofadjacent half necks, a box body of utility is formed. This may be usedas completed, or Vmay" be further complemented by a suitable innerreinforcement.`

.It will be evident from the foregoing, that the walls may be thin orthick either in accordance with the numbers of plies or with thethickness of desired plies, or both, and that box walls may be built upto be as thick as desired. It will be recognized that in addition to thehigher cost, thicker cardboard when scored and bent provides a deeperand more obvious groove at the corners than thinner board. When boxbodies are formed according to this invention and trimmed by the machineset forth in the patent noted, the size of the groove of the innermember at a corner is of moment, despite the subsequent covering by awrap, and, other things being equal, the inner member should be of suchsize or weight material as to minimize the groove line of weakening atthe corner. This is an additional object obtained by the use ofrelatively thin material in the necks of the box.

The desirable attributes of staggering of the line of stress bystaggering corners as described lis carried out according to theinvention in the bottom walls as well. Referring to Fig. 14, a box isshown as set forth for instance in the structure of Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, except for the provision of a bottom reinforcing wallcomprising a plane sheet or sheets of cardboard,

which may be of light or heavy material and l thin or thick according todemands. Preferably, as a step in saving of labor, the sheet 5| issimply dropped into the shell without any adhesive upon either surface,although its adhesion to the bottom I I is also contemplated. Byinsertion in the shell, in wiping contact with the respective end andside walls thereof, it is held firmly in place by the inserted necks asshown, which rest upon its upper surface and provide with the insert astaggered stress line such as to strengthen the assembly. The box may becompleted by the insertion of the internally pasted or glued semitray30, the bottom 3l of which is adherent to the upper surface of insertedsheet 5|.

We claim:

1. A composite box body comprising a supporting structure, a pair ofcomplemental necks each operatively associated with the supportingstructure and with each other and continuous over three walls, andhaving overlapping relation on two walls.

2. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side and endwalls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end walls and a sidewall, a secondary reinforcement mechani- "1 cally secured to theopposite side wall and the end engaging portions of the rstreinforcements.

3. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side and endwalls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end walls and a sidewall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to the oppositeside wall and the end engaging portions of the first reinforcements, andmeans operatively associated with the assembly to increase the thicknessof said side walls.

4. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side and endwalls with adjacent side and end walls joined to form continuous sidewalls meeting in corners prependicular to the bottom, a plurality ofwall forming reinforcements operatively associated with the shell andeach having a bent corner between legs of a length to substantiallycompletely cover adjacent shell walls and so arranged that every shellcorner is reinforced by a bent but continuous layer of wall formingreinforcing material mechanically securedto the shell walls adjacent tosuch corners.

5. A box body comprising a shell having a body and four flaps bent intobox form, means securing the corners of the bent shell, a four-sidedneck having four corners and a termination spaced from the corners, aplurality of necks of less than four walls and corners each, the necksall operatively associated with each other and with said shell to form abox having reinforced multi-ply Walls.

6. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side and endwalls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end walls and a sideWall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to the oppositeside wall and the endengaging portions of the rst reinforcements, a traycomprising a bottom and side Walls mechanically secured to thekrespective side Wallengaging reinforcements.

7. In box bodies, means comprising a reinforced corner, said cornerincluding divergent Walls meeting in a corner With less strength thaneither Wall and having a line of weakness at their apex substantiallybisecting the corner, a reinforcement in engagement with and parallel toone wall an-d having an edge abutting the other Wall and disposed acrossthe line substantially bisecting the corner, and a secondary meanshaving a line of weakness adjacent to said abutment with a line ofWeakness passing across said reinforcement, all of said walls formingsaid reinforced corner being adhesively secured together throughouttheir contacting surface.

8. A box body comprising a shell having walls and a bottom, a partialneck continuous over two ends and a side of the shell, a secondarypartial neck continuous over the other side and over saidfirst-mentioned neck portions over the shell ends, said secondary neckhaving a finished surface on said end reinforcements, a reinforcementfor the bottom and sides having a finished surface, means securing therespective parts together so that the internal exposed surface will becomprised of the finished surfaces of the ends of the secondary neck andof the last-mentioned reinforcement.

9. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side and endWalls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end Walls and a sideWall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to the oppositeside Wall and the end engaging portions of the first reinforcements, andmeans operatively associated With the assembly to increase the thicknessof a wall.

10. A compositebox body comprising a shell having a bottom, side and endWalls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end Walls and a sidewall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to the oppositeside wall and the end engaging portions of the first reinforcements, andmeans operatively associated Withthe assembly to increase the thicknessof the end Walls.

1l. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side andend walls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end Walls and aside Wall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to theopposite side Wall and the end engaging portions of the rstreinforcements, and means operatively associated with the assembly toincrease the thickness of all of said Walls.

12. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side andend Walls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end walls and 'aside Wall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to theopposite side wall an-d the end engaging portions of the firstreinforcements, and supplemental reinforcing means operativelyassociated with the assembly to increase the thickness of a Wall, andsecondary supplemental reinforcing means operatively associated with theassembly increasing the thickness of the bottom.

13. A composite box body comprising a shell having a'bottom, side andend walls, a reinforcement mechanically secured to two end Walls and aside Wall, a secondary reinforcement mechanically secured to theopposite side Wall and the end engaging portions of the rstrein-forcements and means reinforcing the bottom of the assembly.

14. A composite box body comprising a shell having a bottom, side andend Walls with adjacent side and end walls joined to form continuousside walls meeting in corners perpendicular to thebottom, a plurality ofbent one-piece reinforcements each having a single bend arranged one ateach corner of the shell, each reinforcement being of a length and widthto correspond to one end and side Wall of the shell and arranged inoverlapping relationship with adjacent reinforcements, and thereinforcements being adhesively secured to each other and to the shellwalls to reinforce the corners and walls of said shell.

GEORGE H. SNYDER. ALLEN G. SNYDER.

